Cassoulet and more...

Wednesday 14th May 2014



[caption id="attachment_693" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The restaurant at our Hotel[/caption]

Cassoulet is a traditional dish of this area, so we really couldn’t leave without trying some...finding the real thing is hard to do and everyone claims to make the best! Simon had a conversation with a lady working in the tourist office in Moissac asking about cassoulet...she told him that it is a fiercely fought competition between various towns in the region, however, one French company decided on filming an ad for their cassoulet in Castelnaudray claiming that it was actually an English dish and made in the UK! They set up a market stall with tins of the dish plastered in the UK flag etc...and filmed the reaction...take a look for yourselves, it’s on You Tube ...English Cassoulet....it’s very funny, especially as the French don’t seem to have any sense of humour at all. Anyway, we had cassoulet last night and it was delicious...if you have an issue with beans and wind however, this is not the dish for you!!! Mainly haricot beans with a duck leg and a pork sausage. This was followed up with apple tart and a brandy....a real treat! I forgot to mention that we had our cassoulet with chips....a very English thing to do. Whilst Simon was at the bar ordering our dinner he met Beth and Theresa who had flown into Carcassonne today and were having a few days to sightsee....so we spent the evening chatting with them..amazingly they come from the same town Simon was born in... it really is a small world!!!

[caption id="attachment_705" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Not sure we fancy ships with our meal![/caption]

This morning...after a night in a very comfy bed, a hot shower and the use of a proper toilet we had a breakfast of croissant, bread and lots of coffee! It was also a chance to catch up with some emails and a Skype to friends at home...which was SO lovely! Bluebelle had a wash too...she is so dusty from all of our off roading!

[caption id="attachment_692" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Chocolate spread at breakfast![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_697" align="aligncenter" width="427"] The view from our window this morning[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_698" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Our room for the night…it has the balcony on the right[/caption]

We had another wander around the streets of Carcassonne, taking photos and getting lost! But, we had a real treat today..we had our first glimpse of the snow capped Pyrenees  mountains from the walls of the city.

[caption id="attachment_702" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Towards the mountains[/caption]





Our next stop was Trebes which is where we managed to cycle to yesterday.

After parking up we hopped back onto the bikes and headed along the canal du midi again.

[caption id="attachment_706" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Many years of mooring have taken their toll...[/caption]

The views along this section of the canal are much more far reaching than we have had before. There are still deep ravines at times, but mainly the open views stretch for miles and are filled with many chateau and vineyards. But the most amazing view for us is towards the mountains...they are so beautiful, so majestic ...just awesome...and every corner we turn we have yet another glimpse of them.

[caption id="attachment_707" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A hotel barge[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_708" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Far reaching views of vineyards[/caption]





There are many more pine trees now, and as we cycle over the needles the smell of pine is gorgeous, the poppies are vibrant and the yellow broom is like sunshine along the path.



[caption id="attachment_713" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Reflections in the water[/caption]

We went as far as the Ecluses de l’Aiguille where the lock keeper seems to have had a lot of time on his hands, as well as lots of junk...here is a sample of some of the statues he made....



 

 

We turned back for Trebes here, retrieved the van, and having spotted a great place to park up for the night at the lock before the statue one we made straight for there.

There have been so many amazing views today...it’s hard not to stop and photograph them all....its all so beautiful that somehow you want to try to gather it all up ...to keep it for yourself, but all that you can do is to take a photo and leave the real beauty for those that will follow in your footsteps.